NNews-Sep-2026

Contact Dr. Gibson to create these opportunities for your staff! gibsonc@tcnj.edu 609-771-2136 16 September 2026 ProgramCreates Opportunities for People who Enter the Field through Different Paths “We must be flexible and creative to determine how to fit in people with, for example, Bachelor’s degrees in Fine Arts,” D’Amico noted. He shared the surprising example of someone who was an opera singer before entering the behavioral healthcare field. Of course, the traditional paths are equally inspiring. One graduate started in Oaks’ CCBHC in 2017 and moved up to a supervisory role because of her strengths and abilities, but was limited in opportunity to continue to grow as she only had a Bachelor’s degree. “The TCNJ program afforded her the opportunity to get her Master’s degree while working in the field and taking care of her family. She now has a Master’s degree and can have a broader impact on Oaks and clients. She’s primed to do incredible things,” D’Amico said. “People are very dedicated and knowwhat they want to do with their careers. They appreciate every opportunity. The work isn’t easy, and this apprenticeship program reinforces their commitment,” D’Amico commented. “The return on investment is tremendous with exceptional value for clients, the agency and its staff,” he stressed. “ This apprenticeshipmodel works because it’s built on true partnership. When we combine TCNJ’s academic rigor with Oaks’ clinical expertise, we’re not just training counselors; we’re building a stronger behavioral health workforce. ” Sandy Gibson, PhD, LCSW, LCADC Professor, Department of Online Counselor Education The College of New Jersey How the ProgramWorks Every newTCNJ student striving for a career inmental health counseling is connectedwith Oaks throughwellness fairs that TCNJ hosts. For the first year, Oaks identified ten jobs to apprentice and hired people whom TCNJ accepted to start in the fall of 2025. Throughout the first year, every participant receives one hour of supervision each week. “This connects what they learn in the classroom with how it plays out in the field,” Dr. Gibson said. In the second year, each participant completes a traditional practicumand internship as part of their job. “A paid practicum as part of the workday is absolutely a game changer. It increases accessibility to this degree for somany,” Dr. Gibson commented. “Historically, people would have to leave work and go to a second unpaid job to complete their 700 hours.” The other pathway is for individuals already working at behavioral healthcare organizations to expand their knowledge and skills in preparation for career advancement. TCNJ and Oaks Integrated Care Partner to Strengthen theWorkforce continued frompage 1 5